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Not only do walking up stairs, moving around the house, and driving to a doctor’s office get more difficult as we age, but they also become more dangerous as our risk of falling increases. According to a report from the CDC, unintentional falls are the top cause of injury and death in adults over 65. In fact, the CDC estimates that an older American falls every second. The rate at which they are dying from fall-related injuries is almost twice the rate 20 years ago. These statistics are even more staggering when we consider that the older population is growing. By 2030, experts expect a rise of approximately 31%. Research indicates that, with this growth, fatal falls could reach 100,000 per year. Older adults suffer severe repercussions from falling, so getting the right preventative care becomes essential for living a healthy and active life. Yet, access to care can be challenging due to mobility or geographic limitations. Take James, a 75-year-old man from Chicago who said, “I’m afraid of walking since I don’t want to fall. I just don’t trust myself.” He was prescribed in-person physical therapy twice, but never went because it was inconvenient. He lacked family support and adequate transportation, making it difficult to travel for in-person physical therapy. His fear left him frustrated and feeling like he was losing his independence. He’s not alone. With a National Health and Aging Trends Study estimating that half of older adults have unmet needs in care, we need new thinking on addressing fall risk in older adults. Today, new digital solutions are emerging that provide tailored exercise programs and encourage small changes to daily life that can lead to significantly lower fall risk. The fall risk older adults face One in four older Americans fall each year, according to the CDC. Falls can cause serious injuries with long-term consequences. 37% of those who fall need medical treatment or restricted activity afterwards. More than 95% of hip fractures are caused by falling. Moreover, post-fall complications can lead to a decline in health. In addition to the significant pain and trauma caused by falls, they also lead to financial strains. According to the CDC, three million older adults are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries each year, costing over $50 billion in medical treatments. This cost is expected to grow to a staggering $100 billion dollar problem as the population ages. Digital programs are already proven to reduce medical-service use and increase annual healthcare savings by thousands of dollars per participant. Medicare participants who used a digital therapy program for osteoarthritis conditions saw 13.5x lower hospital use and 46% cost savings overall. We can also reduce Medicare costs for the MSK conditions older adults face due to falls. Providing care with tailored therapy Research supports the need for a more holistic, individualized care plan for older adults at risk for falls. A personalized exercise therapy program tailored for strength, balance, and resistance training can help reduce the rate of falls by up to 42%, according to the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. Building strength helps prevent injuries, improve functional ability, and keeps people healthy. Since many falls happen due to distractions, a physical therapist might also recommend dual tasking, which is doing some form of movement simultaneously with a cognitive exercise, such as having a conversation while reaching for something on the shelf. These physical therapy programs can be managed digitally, a convenient option for the growing number of older adults who use their smartphones today. According to Pew Research, 83% of Americans between the ages of 50-64 use a smartphone, and 61% of Americans over the age of 65 use a smartphone. In fact, digital therapy is the preferred treatment option for many patients, with 48% of people saying digital physical therapy would make it easier for them to follow their care plan, according to a recent national consumer survey on MSK pain. Digital health solutions for all Digital solutions provide an option for those like James who face barriers traveling to appointments. This is especially true for those in rural and underserved areas who need to travel longer distances to reach a physical therapist. With digital care, patients conveniently work with their physical therapists from their own homes. With the right technology, the therapist can detect joint movement and assess a patient’s form. This makes care easier for both the patient and the therapist. Continued support and the right physical therapy program will help older adults build strength and improve balance, helping them regain confidence and live happier, healthier lives.

SAN FRANCISCO--( BUSINESS WIRE )--To help illuminate the complex and complicated nature of pain and pain treatment, Hinge Health today released its State of Musculoskeletal (MSK) Care 2024 Report, incorporating findings from a national survey of 10,000 Americans suffering from chronic and acute pain. Pain, especially chronic pain, can create a vicious cycle of fear, depression, sleep issues, activity avoidance and more. One in two Americans experience MSK pain, and this year’s report includes 10 key takeaways that highlight the physical and emotional toll of that pain. Among the takeaways: Pain is a mental health issue: About 1/3 (38%) of people in pain report feeling depressed; nearly half (44%) report anxiety. Furthermore, they say their pain increases and amplifies symptoms of these mental health conditions . Pain rarely exists in isolation: 53% of respondents say that pain affects their sleep while 22% report having obesity and 17% report having type 2 diabetes. Pain negatively impacts everyday life—and work: 27% of respondents agree that MSK pain has decreased their productivity at work, and 22% agree it has made them consider leaving their jobs. People in pain want to avoid costly, risky interventions: 77% of people in pain are looking for non-surgical options to treat their MSK pain. Barriers to traditional PT include cost, motivation, and access: Half of people in pain indicate traditional PT is too expensive to pursue. Of those who stopped PT, 54% indicated that insurance is not covering enough sessions. “We live in a nation in pain. The fact that over three-quarters of people are looking for non-surgical options to treat their pain isn’t surprising, given that an estimated 40% of surgeries for MSK fail to produce improved outcomes or lack clinical necessity altogether ,” said Dr. Jeff Krauss, Chief Medical Officer, Hinge Health. “Physical therapy by far remains the best course of non-invasive treatment for MSK pain but not enough people are able to access it. Employers have an opportunity to offer benefits that provide a real value to their employees and, in turn, create a healthier, more productive workforce.” The survey was conducted with a third-party research firm between September 28-October 13, 2023, focusing on 10,000 insured consumers in the U.S. ages 26 to 76 who have personally experienced either acute pain (lasting < 3 months) or chronic pain (lasting ≧3 months) within the past two years. Overall, lower back pain was the most prevalent type of pain reported, with 78% of respondents indicating they experienced lower back pain in the past year. More than 50% of respondents have experienced knee, shoulder, neck, or foot pain in the past year. To download the State of MSK 2024 Care Report, visit: https://go.hingehealth.com/2024-state-of-msk . About Hinge Health Hinge Health is moving people beyond pain by transforming the way it is treated and prevented. Connecting people digitally and in-person with expert clinical care, we combine advanced technology, AI and a care team of experts to guide people through personalized care directly from their phone. Our approach is proven to reduce pain by 68%, prevent 42% of new opioid prescriptions, and avoid more than half of joint replacement surgeries. Available to 18M people, Hinge Health is trusted by leading health plans and employers, including Land O’Lakes, L.L. Bean, Salesforce, Self-Insured Schools of California, Southern Company, State of New Jersey, US Foods, and Verizon. Learn more about how we are inspiring people to improve their health through the power of movement http://www.hingehealth.com .

The partnership provides a seamless experience for patients for every step of the orthopedic care journey while bundling costs for medical claims savings for employers and their health plan members. NEW YORK, Dec. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Vori Health, a nationwide virtual-first specialty medical practice and industry leader in the treatment of muscle and joint pain today announced a partnership with Contigo Health, a health benefits platform that leads direct-to-employer and direct-to-provider relationships, to create a comprehensive musculoskeletal (MSK) benefit solution. The highly-integrated program designed for self-funded employers combines Contigo Health's orthopedic surgical Centers of Excellence (COE) program with Vori's award-winning virtual non-operative MSK care model—creating a single, evidence-based benefit solution that aims to improve outcomes and lower costs for millions of employees struggling with back and joint pain nationwide. Continue Reading "Giving patients access to the right care at the right time is what this program is all about," said Vori Health co-founder and CEO Ryan Grant, MD. "It's the key to driving value in this space. Nothing of this level of comprehensive support exists in this industry. We are excited to partner with forward-thinking companies like Contigo Health to bring this program's unparalleled access to appropriate care to companies nationwide." "Giving patients access to the right care at the right time is what this program is all about," says Vori Health CEO Ryan Grant, MD. Post this Known as the Contigo Health Centers of Excellence 360 Orthopedics Program, the new offering provides members of self-funded employer health plans with a seamless experience for every step of the orthopedic care journey. Enrolled members experiencing issues like back, hip or knee pain gain access to convenient telehealth treatment including physician-directed screening for surgical readiness, adequate non-operative care such as virtual physical therapy and nutrition counseling, medical optimization to prepare appropriate candidates for surgery, and post-operative programs to get members back to work and life as quickly and safely as possible. Members who could benefit from surgery have access to Contigo Health's Centers of Excellence network of high-quality, highly vetted surgical partners. All of these services are offered to employers as bundles for ease of administration, accountable utilization and more predictable healthcare costs. "Pain is a massive issue for U.S. employers, and inadequate access to appropriate, non-operative care is fueling the problem," added Contigo Health President and CEO, John Strickland. "We are thrilled to partner with Vori Health and address this underlying issue head on. By integrating our solutions, we're able to give our clients and their health plan members the comprehensive care and convenient access they need to contain costs and improve outcomes for every step of the care journey." This partnership comes at a critical time for employers. One out of every two adults in the U.S. suffers from back and joint pain, making MSK issues a top cause of global disability and rising healthcare costs. While surgical COEs have ameliorated some of these pain points for employers in recent years, adequate access to evidence-based non-operative care remains a core problem. Studies show that 50 percent of lumbar spine surgeries are still deemed unnecessary, and as many as four in ten patients who undergo surgery did not receive first-line physical therapy. "Orthopedic care is often a siloed, confusing and frustrating system for patients to navigate," added Vori Health co-founder and Chief Medical Officer Mary O'Connor, MD. "Even in our most elite hospitals, too many individuals go to the operating room unnecessarily or without the proper preparation. Those are risk factors we can and should change. We're thrilled to partner with Contigo Health to change this standard and make orthopedic care the way it should be—patient-centered, evidence-based and accessible." "Contigo Health has been a forerunner in the Centers of Excellence category," concluded Contigo Health Vice President, Centers of Excellence, Heather Ridenoure. "We are proud of our programs' outcomes and commitment to appropriate care. But we also know that surgery isn't for everyone. And non-surgical candidates aren't getting the support they need from the healthcare ecosystem. Our next generation Orthopedics program joins our line of other hybrid programs, including those designed to address Cancer and Substance Use Disorders, to help participants increase their speed to comfort and access high quality care that's tailored to their needs. Vori Health is an important partner in this work." About Vori Health‍ Vori Health is a specialty medical practice delivering a virtual-first musculoskeletal (MSK) solution to help members get back to their lives faster. As the only nationwide MSK practice with doctor-led care teams, Vori Health is the most convenient way to access appropriate care for back, neck and joint pain without bouncing around the healthcare system. Whether members need a diagnosis, non-opioid prescription, personalized physical therapy or health coaching, they can turn to Vori Health for evidence-based care and effective end-to-end support. This holistic model reduces unnecessary surgeries, enables faster recoveries and lowers MSK spend with up to a 4:1 ROI. For more information visit . About Contigo Health, LLC Contigo Health, LLC, a consolidated subsidiary of Premier, Inc., is leading the way to financially sustainable healthcare. Contigo Health is a health benefits platform that leads direct-to-employer and direct-to-provider relationships. It is relentlessly focused on revolutionizing healthcare through appropriate, cost-effective, transparent, and thoughtful benefits design. Contigo Health® products include ConfigureNet™, a network with over 900,000 providers across 4.1 million U.S. locations, Sync Health Plan TPA, Payvider Activation, and Centers of Excellence 360. To learn more, please visit and follow us on LinkedIn, YouTube and Twitter. SOURCE Vori Health